Pray and fast for a culture of life, congressman says

Last updated on: October 12, 2016 at 11:26 pm by CNA Daily News

Pray and fast for a culture of life, congressman says 2016-10-12T23:26:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Oct 12, 2016 / 05:26 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In the closing weeks of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Catholics should pray and fast for “a culture of life,” one Catholic member of Congress has said.

“Like in the time of Queen Esther, the faithful and faith-filled need to pray and fast for God’s mercy, healing, justice, humane laws and policies and conversion. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told pilgrims on the International Day of Prayer and Fasting on Monday.

“For a time such as this, the urgency now is for persevering prayer including the Rosary and Chaplet of Mercy, asking God in Jesus’ name for protection for the weakest and most vulnerable – unborn children, persons with disabilities, and the frail elderly,” he continued.

The 24th International Week of Prayer and Fasting took place from Oct. 2-10. It culminated in an all-day prayer vigil on Monday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C.

Leaders of the prayer and fasting campaign were joined this year by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and the pro-life group Priests for Life.

Global crises – including a record number of refugees and deadly natural disasters – were cited as the week began to emphasize the need for prayer. The current the Jubilee Year of Mercy was also cited.

The week’s prayer intentions were the “conversion of peoples and nations,” “to build a culture of life,” “to defend the sanctity of marriage and family life,” and “for peace and to implore God’s mercy.”

Maureen Flynn, who chaired the event’s coalition, said in a statement that “peace can only come to us from the return of humanity to God through means of conversion, to which we are being called this day by means of prayer, fasting, and penance. Prayer and fasting can stop wars and will obtain for our nation and our world great graces from God.”

Rep. Smith was joined by Lila Rose, founder of the pro-life group Live Action, in addressing pilgrims on Monday at the basilica, and Fr. Chris M. Alar, MIC, gave the homily at the Mass on the International day of Prayer and Fasting.

Jesus commanded his followers to fast in the Gospel. He himself fasted for 40 days in the desert, and he said that certain demons could only be driven out through prayer and fasting. Rep. Smith noted.

The need for this is all the more dire because of current problems, he said, pointing to pro-life legislation being overturned in the courts, a movement to eliminate the Hyde Amendment’s prohibition on federal funding of abortions, and moves to force churches to include abortion coverage in health plans, like in California.

Yet Smith exhorted the faithful not to lose heart but to continue praying and working to build a culture of life.

“Discouragement is a luxury we can’t afford,” he said. “We must become even more determined to protect the least of our brethren and expose the grand deception so effectively executed by the abortion industry.”

Catholics should also remember that in protecting the unborn, they are protecting Jesus, he stressed. “Finally, Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that whatever we do for the least of these, we do it to Him. To defend the unborn child is to defend Jesus.”

And he added that Catholics must pray for not only the unborn, but also for mothers who have suffered from abortions.

“Post-abortive women need our prayers today – everyday – as the Church strives to reach them with ministries like Project Rachel, Rachael’s Vineyard, and the Silent No More awareness campaign,” he said.

“I would argue that the past and present need not be prologue. We can rally. We can surge in support of the culture of life,” he continued. “By the grace of God – through prayers, fasting, and hard work, the culture of life must be established – saving tens of millions.”

Previous Post

October 12, 2016

Leaked emails show Clinton campaign head discussing 'revolution' against bishops

Next Post

October 12, 2016 Why religious leaders asked Obama to condemn his civil rights chair's rhetoric

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter James Jesus Paul